This semester, Allen is taking a mission’s class. It’s one he’s really enjoyed so far! Last week, rather than meeting for class, he was required to watch a movie called “Beyond the Next Mountain” about a man named Dr. Rochunga Pudaite, an Indian man who translated the Bible into his tribe’s language.

It was a fascinating movie – you can watch it here – but even more amazing was the legacy this man left behind.

Rochunga (also known as Ro) grew up in Northeast India (where I once traveled on a mission trip!). His dad was one of the first believers among the Hmar people, a fierce headhunting tribe, thanks to missionary Watkin Roberts. He prayed that one day, he would have a son who could translate the Bible into the Hmar language.

Ro was the first boy from his village to attend school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Calcutta, India, then attended school in Scotland and Chicago. While in Chicago, he finalized his Bible translation, mailed it to the printer, and finally, it arrived in India.

Even though the Hmar people had the Bible in their language, Ro realized that not many of the people could read. So he started 85 village Christian schools, seven Christian high schools, two junior colleges, and a seminary. The Hmar people now have one of the highest literacy rates of any people group throughout India.

Ro served as Executive Director of the Indo-Burma Mission and later with his wife, founded a ministry that is now known as Bibles for the World. God has used Ro’s life and blessed his efforts: Millions of people worldwide have been reached with the Gospel as a result of his work.

Allen and I have talked several times about how God always does “abundantly more than all we can ask or imagine.” Here, God took a young man from a dangerous tribe in Northeast India and used his faithful obedience to reach millions. But if we reach before that, God used the faithful prayers of Ro’s dad to ensure that would happen. And if we reach even further back, God used Watkin Roberts, the missionary who followed the Lord to India, to introduce the Gospel to Ro’s father.

It’s amazing to think about the concentric circles that form when one person acts in obedience. We don’t always see those circles. When we’re the stone that’s dropped into a pond, we just sink in and nestle into the work. Meanwhile, all around us, circles are spreading out – more and more – in all directions: the effects of our obedience. Regardless of the size of the obedience, it’s important to remember that even the smallest rock makes ripples.

So today I’m feeling challenged:

• To choose a word of kindness rather than anger.
• To be faithful in serving my husband rather than myself.
• To show patience towards my children and move at their pace.

As I am faithful in these small acts of obedience, the ripples will spread. And who knows what will come of that?